City Has Lake Havasu Lowered for Channel Seawall Repair

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Looking toward the north end of Bridgewater Channel.

Looking toward the north end of Bridgewater Channel.

This is one city with a lot of clout. When construction began to repair the north channel seawall and beach, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) complied with the city’s request to temporarily lower the lake 1-1/2 feet for five days. The result will benefit boaters and beachgoers for years to come.

The north Bridgewater Channel area by the Kings View condos had seen better days. Water had undermined the sidewalk and the seawall and beach were eroding. In order to make temporary repairs before a permanent fix later this year, the city had the lake lowered so they could install special erosion protection fabric and rocks, known as riprap, to slow the deterioration, according to J. Greg Froslie, P.E., Director, City Engineer, Community Investment Department.

“The stabilization is now complete – the new design will mitigate further problems in this area and improve its appearance,” Greg says.

Look for final completion this December when the lake is again lowered as part of the USBR’s annual maintenance.

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How to Discourage Aquatic Hitchhikers

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invasive species mussel sticker

Trailers with this sticker may get through inspections faster.

No one likes to sit out in the hot sun waiting to pass through California’s Border Protection Stations (BPS). But don’t take it personally. In addition to searching for invasive quagga and zebra mussels, the BPS stop cars and trucks looking for all sorts of plant material. Here’s some advice on how to breeze through. Whether you’re re-entering California through Yermo (I-15), Needles (I-40), Vidal Junction (SR 62), Blythe (I-10), or Winterhaven (I-8), chances are good that if you’re pulling a boat you’ll be stopped, at least temporarily.

Although the primary focus is on plant materials (i.e., fruits, vegetables, nursery stock, hay, firewood, etc.), inspectors are checking for exotic invasive species that may be hitchhiking.

To minimize delays at the border, inspectors are trained to conduct their inspections according to the risk that a vehicle may be carrying hitchhiking pests in it – the higher the risk, the more thorough the inspection.

Protecting California against aquatic invasive species is an important part of the job. Mussels easily hitchhike on boats and are spread by unsuspecting boat owners. They are extremely invasive and disruptive to aquatic ecosystems, and post a great economic threat to water delivery systems for cities and agriculture.

Jim Salscheider, president of the Lake Havasu Marine Association (LHMA), says, “To breeze through, be sure to clean the boat, pull the plugs to drain the bilge, livewells, ballast and engine cooling water, then dry off the entire craft.

He offers these additional tips:

  • “Pay particular attention to weeds and other vegetation hanging on trailer bunks and fenders, especially during low water levels.
  • “Clean anchors and anchor lines – both chain and rope. Vinegar and water is great for this. Be sure to have them in plain sight to speed up border inspections.
  • “Expose wet PFDs to the open air and allow them to dry completely prior to storage,” Salscheider advises.
  • “Display a ‘Don’t Move a Mussel’ sticker to show inspectors you’re aware of the effort to combat invasive species – the Lake Havasu Marine Association has already stickered 16,400 boats and trailers. 

Jim regularly visits border stations to maintain good relations with inspectors. He supervises a team of volunteers working local launch ramps on weekends to distribute invasive species information, educate boaters, and place stickers on trailers. The LHMarineAssn.com website also sells a CatWrench, a T-handle tool that makes removing plugs easier. Many inspectors already have them, courtesy of the LHMA.

Ask him and Jim will show you a vial containing a quagga mussel, something he carries around to educate people on what they look like. It’s a constant reminder of the importance of kicking those nasty hitchhikers off your watercraft.

Want to learn more? Visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

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Flying the Trapeze at the Hobie-McCulloch Cup, Mar. 11 to 13

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Hobie Regatta on Lake Havasu

Hobie cats on Lake Havasu

Enjoying the lake isn’t always about burning mass quantities of fossil fuels. In fact, one of the most exciting moments in sports is when a sailor flies the trapeze wire on a sleek, superfast Hobie catamaran.

In Hobie cat racing, which comes to Lake Havasu on Mar. 11 to 13, sailors will often hang on trapeze wires outside of the boat’s rail to keep both hulls in the water. Their bodies are straight out from the boat, something you’ll likely see if you come watch the competition next month off Windsor 4.

Hobies are named after company founder, Hobart Alter, who in the early 60s designed an easily-beached fiberglass catamaran. From 1967 on, the new Hobie Cat Company went on to become the largest manufacturer of small catamarans in the world. In 1969, Hobie released the Hobie 16, the most popular catamaran ever and the most competitive catamaran class in the world. In fact, over 135,000 Hobie 16 Cats are sailing around the world, with dozens expected for the Hobie-McCulloch Cup.

Members of the Hobie Class Association of North America will trailer their Hobie 16 and 18-ft. cats from throughout the southwest for the competition on Lake Havasu, something they’ve been doing on and off since the 1970s. It’s the first event of the 2016 Hobie Division 2 Regatta schedule and races will take place in the waters north of the island, from Windsor Beach, Lot 4.

“This is a special type of sailing – it’s inland, in a desert, on a lake – so typically afternoon winds are best,” says organizer Rex Miller. “Anyone with a boat can watch it from the water. Spectators are invited to come to the Windsor 4 Beach, meet the skippers and crew, take photographs and get a sense of the sport.”

Set-up is Friday, Mar. 11, with competition planned for Saturday and Sunday, March 12 and 13. The awards ceremony will be held Sunday at approximately 3 p.m., depending upon the wind that day. Spectator admission is $3.

Hosted by the Lake Havasu Yacht Club, Hobie racing is a lot quieter than powerboating or PWC racing, except, of course, for the screams of delight from the skipper and crew.

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